Judge Accuses Joe Berrios of Being Joe Berrios

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 22, 2011 5:40PM

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios has maintained a low profile in recent months. Last we heard from Cook County's Mexican American Boss Tweed, he was refusing to return campaign contributions that were deemed excessive under state law and gave his daughter Vanessa a pay raise worth $10,000 annually.

The Sun-Times reports today on an appellate court judge who claims Berrios is making it hard for him to be re-elected. Judge Rodolfo "Rudy" Garcia claims Berrios sent him a letter seven years ago asking him to rule in favor of a Berrios soldier in a petition challenge to the campaign of his daughter, State Rep. Toni Berrios.

A lower court tossed the challenge by Felix Cardona and the case was appealed to Garcia's court. Here's what Garcia said.

“A mutual friend, somebody who used to work for Joe Berrios, somebody who would go drinking with him, someone who introduced me to Joe Berrios — he mentions to me that there was an appeal coming before my panel that involved Joe Berrios’ daughter,” Garcia said. “She wasn’t named, but she was the representative for the district. They were trying to knock off her opponent to save them the cost of running a campaign.”

Garcia said he was also shocked to see Joe Berrios arrive at his courtroom. “He came to oral argument and was trying to make eye contact with me," he said. Garcia joined in a unanimous verdict to keep Toni Berrios' opponent on the ballot. "Later on, I was told Joe was going to get payback,” Garcia said.

Berrios, naturally, denies the accusations and insists the candidate the Cook County Democratic Party endorsed, Jesse Reyes, worked harder than Garcia in currying their favor.